Featured

Words: Joe Jackson Photos: Aaron Schmidt The Wild and Scenic stretch of Oregon’s Lower Rogue could well be defined as a crossover river. Ambling miles of emerald Class II punctuated with whoop-worthy Class III (and the occasional Class IV drop) make it a perfect place for beginner whitewater boaters to cross into the intermediate range. This heavenly protected stretch made famous by the likes of author Zane Grey and Meryl Streep (a la The River Wild) also toes the line between rugged and luxurious. Deep in the canyon, outfitters such as Rogue Wilderness Adventures serve rib-eye steaks to clients reclining on inflatable couches. This dichotomous stretch of river was the perfect testing ground for a quiver of four crossover kayaks. Our group of C&K staffers and regular contributors spent three long summer days on the Rogue, evaluating how each of these boats would serve as a do (almost) everything river craft. Over these 34 low-stress miles we sprinted in flatwater, dropped the crossovers’ retractable skegs to drift, peeled in and out of every eddy, and left no riffle unsurfed. In the evenings, we compared notes over delicious local craft brew from Ninkasi. After we left the Wild and Scenic section, we

Featured

By Colin Kemp Becoming a well-rounded paddler requires learning a mix of hard skills (such as bracing, throw rope practice, strokes) and soft skills (such as reading water). All too often, however, the soft skills get left behind in today’s world of instant gratification. The stability and maneuverability of modern boats may have helped kayakers build hard skills, but the evolution of gear does not let you cheat the progression of the soft skills, which take time and practice. Learning to read water is just like learning to speak a new language. Not only do you need to be able to say the words, but also you need to understand what the other person is saying to have a good conversation. If you make time to develop the three ‘Ps’ of reading water, you will continue to build your vocabulary and be a better boater for it. Practice! You will never learn to read water if you don’t stop, get out of your boat, and scout a rapid. Even if it is a rapid you’ve run dozens of times before but have never scouted, you may be amazed by what you find. Hone the soft skill of anticipating how various currents

Featured

Day trips are paddling gateways. They mark the transition from casual after work paddles to the soul altering journeys of discovery that make sea kayaking, canoeing, and whitewater lifelong pursuits. The skills you learn from day tripping—gear selection, navigation, group dynamics and more complex paddle strokes to handle your craft in varying conditions—will serve you well in the future, and pave the way to longer overnight and multiday trips. Before you dive into this list of our favorite day trip destinations, heed this warning: You are about to take the first step toward becoming hopelessly addicted to paddling. Tallahassee, Fla. Floating Florida Santa Cruz, Calif. California Wild Asheville, N.C. Easy Eastern Whitewater Hessel, Mich. Sea Kayaking an Inland Sea Algonquin Park, Ontario The Heart of Canoe Country

Featured

BY JIM BAIRD After the last portage on the Adlatok, we began our 14-mile ocean paddle to Hopedale, flanked by the rugged, treeless terrain of the Labrador coast. When we felt wind on the back of our necks, we quickly rigged up sails. Ted came up with a sail system earlier in the trip and we’d used it successfully several times. The beauty of this sail rig is that it can be set up and taken down very quickly. No one needs to hold the sail or operate it, meaning both people can paddle or fish. Here’s how it’s done: Paddles Up: Wedge a paddle on either side of the canoe between your carrying yoke and gear. Use rope or carabiner clips to further secure them if need be. You can also place the paddles in the bow in front of the carrying handle. Bag It: Slip a thick grade carpenter’s garbage bag over the two paddles. Sail on, sail on: This setup works best with the wind at your back. The beauty of this sail rig is that it can be set up and taken down very quickly. No one needs to hold the sail or operate it, meaning both

Featured

How do you follow up 2,400 miles of “pure adventure” paddling the length of the Mississippi River? If you’re Denver-based adventurer Rich Brand, you move on to saltwater, and set out to sea kayak the entire west coast of the United States. Brand is the man behind Captured Heartbeats, movement that seeks to “inspire others to adventure while photographing the people, culture and environment.” After traveling and photographing much of North America by Jeep and motorcycle, he made his first kayak journey in 2014—a Mississippi source to sea. With the Ol’ Muddy behind him, Brand launched his sea kayak in Seattle in early May. We caught up with Brand on the Oregon coast, midway through his 1,000-mile journey to San Diego. CanoeKayak.com: What was the impetus for Captured Heartbeats? Rich Brand: It’s more than just traveling. It’s the ability to meet and be part of people’s lives. I have been welcomed by so many different lives and lifestyles. I interpret this as being able to see and experience the heartbeats of their lives. When the opportunity allows, I like to capture those through imagery. When did you get into paddling? I see up until the Mississippi, most of your travels were motorized.

AW Safety Report

Cullowhee, NC – February 7, 2006 – Safety has been at the core of American Whitewater’s mission since 1954. “We’ve been reporting and analyzing accidents since our earliest days and today we are leaders in whitewater safety education based on that research. Our Accident Database is the most comprehensive collection and analysis of whitewater accidents and close calls anywhere,” explains Charlie Walbridge, American Whitewater’s Safety Editor. He goes on to say “The freedom to take calculated risks, in business, love, or whitewater, is one of the most cherished prerogatives of a free people. We support the right of knowledgeable paddlers to push their limits, and at the same time help give uninformed paddlers the information they need to have fun and stay safe.” The Accident Database is online at www.americanwhitewater.org/accidents/.

Accident analysis is the foundation for the AW Safety Code, which outlines whitewater safety guidelines applicable to all skill levels. First written in 1957 and regularly updated, it is the most complete set of guidelines for whitewater paddlers in existence. It also contains the International Scale of River Difficulty, which is in use throughout North America and the world. AW’s listing of Standard Rated Rapids helps make river classification more consistent across the country. It was developed by former AW Safety Chair Lee Belknap by scientifically analyzing forms filled out by hundreds of paddlers across the country. Paddlers across the nation use it to know what to expect when traveling to an unfamiliar river.

Safety often becomes an issue in river stewardship work; AW’s key programmatic focus. The challenge is often explaining whitewater paddling to the non-paddling public. Commonly asked questions are: “How safe is whitewater paddling? Where does AW stand on riverbed modification or boat registration? What are the most important issues for legislators, river managers, and emergency responders?” All of these questions are answered in the safety section of the stewardship toolkit online at AW Stewardship.

To Report an Accident:

Accident reporting is vital to American Whitewater’s mission. But more importantly, it’s a sure antidote to the rumor, gossip, and innuendo that always follows a serious accident. AW’s Accident Database works with individuals who were on the scene and is thus able to set the record straight.

The Accident Database contains reports of fatal accidents, serious injuries, and near-misses. A serious injury is one requiring hospitalization; a near miss is an event that could easily have been fatal. The Safety Committee examines all submissions prior to the final posting and decides which incidents will be added to the database.

There are several ways to report an accident:

1) Each witness can post his or her own account to the AW web site and the Safety Committee will create a report.

2) Groups or individuals can create their own report and post it. If you would like help in crafting your report, contact Charlie Walbridge, AW Safety Editor, at ccwalbridge@cs.com or by phone at (304) 379-9002.

3) You can post emails, message board and chat room postings, and newspaper articles on the AW site. In addition to providing a link, please cut and paste the text from the article. The links may be dead when someone from Safety Committee follows it up. Always be sure that the SOURCE and DATE is clearly indicated.

4) If you want to pass on information that you DON’T want the public to see, please specify on the report form that the material is private. If so designated, it will not be released without your OK.

If you have corrections, questions or comments about any accident please email Charlie Walbridge at ccwalbridge@cs.com.

The recent improvements and updates of the AW Accident Database were made possible by the Andy Banach Memorial Safety Fund. AW thanks the family and friends of Andy Banach.